Accused prom date killer pleads not guilty

Daniel Tepfer

Updated 12:36 am, Thursday, June 5, 2014

High school junior Christopher Plaskon, accused of fatally stabbing a classmate in a school hallway after she refused to go to the prom with him, made his second court appearance Wednesday, June 4, 2014 and plead not guilty.

Photo: Screenshot, WFSB

High school junior Christopher Plaskon, accused of fatally stabbing...

Christopher Plaskon, 16, is charged with the murder of Maren Sanchez, 16 (pictured) who was stabbed to death on April 25, 2014 inside a hallway at Jonathan Law High School in Milford.

Photo: Via Social Media

Christopher Plaskon, 16, is charged with the murder of Maren...

Christopher Plaskon, 16, right, stands with appointed guardian, uncle Paul Healy, during a hearing in his first public court appearance at Superior Court Friday, May 2, 2014, in Milford, Conn. He his charged with the murder of Maren Sanchez, 16, who was stabbed to death on April 25, 2014 inside a hallway at Jonathan Law High School in Milford.
Photo: Peter Hvizdak, Pool

Christopher Plaskon, 16, right, stands with appointed guardian,...

Christopher Plaskon, 16, center, stands with defense attorneys Edward Gavin, left, and Richard T Meehan, Jr., right, during his first public court appearance at Superior Court Friday, May 2, 2014, in Milford, Conn. He is charged in the fatal stabbing of Maren Sanchez, 16, who was stabbed to death April 25 inside a hallway at Jonathan Law High School in Milford.
Photo: Peter Hvizdak, Pool

Christopher Plaskon, 16, center, stands with defense attorneys...

Christopher Plaskon, 16, second from right, stands with defense attorneys Edward Gavin, left, and Richard T Meehan, Jr., far right, and appointed guardian and uncle Paul Healy, second from left, during first his public court appearance at Superior Court Friday, May 2, 2014, in Milford, Conn. He is charged in the fatal stabbing of Maren Sanchez, 16, who was stabbed to death April 25 inside a hallway at Jonathan Law High School in Milford.
Photo: Peter Hvizdak, Pool

Christopher Plaskon, 16, second from right, stands with defense...

Christopher Plaskon, 16, stands during his first public court appearance at Superior Court Friday, May 2, 2014, in Milford, Conn. He is charged in the fatal stabbing of Maren Sanchez, 16, who was stabbed to death April 25 inside a hallway at Jonathan Law High School in Milford.
Photo: Peter Hvizdak, Pool

Christopher Plaskon, 16, stands during his first public court...

Christopher Plaskon, 16, stands during a hearing in his first public court appearance at Superior Court Friday, May 2, 2014, in Milford, Conn. He his charged with the murder of Maren Sanchez, 16, who was stabbed to death on April 25, 2014inside a hallway at Jonathan Law High School in Milford.
Photo: Peter Hvizdak, Pool

Christopher Plaskon, 16, stands during a hearing in his first...

Christopher Plaskon, 16, second from right, stands with defense attorneys Edward Gavin, left, and Richard T Meehan, Jr., far right, and appointed guardian and uncle Paul Healy, second from left, during his first public court appearance at Superior Court Friday, May 2, 2014, in Milford, Conn. He is charged in the fatal stabbing of Maren Sanchez, 16, who was stabbed to death April 25 inside a hallway at Jonathan Law High School in Milford.

Photo: Peter Hvizdak, Pool

Christopher Plaskon, 16, second from right, stands with defense...

Police Officers stand outside Milford Superior Court Friday, May 2, 2014, during the arraignment of Christopher Plaskon, the teenager charged in the killing of Jonathan Law High School student Maren Sanchez.
Photo: Autumn Driscoll

The media sets up outside Milford Superior Court Friday, May 2, 2014, during the arraignment of Christopher Plaskon, the teenager charged in the killing of Jonathan Law High School student Maren Sanchez.
Photo: Autumn Driscoll

The media sets up outside Milford Superior Court Friday, May 2, 2014, during the arraignment of Christopher Plaskon, the teenager charged in the killing of Jonathan Law High School student Maren Sanchez.
Photo: Autumn Driscoll

The media sets up outside Milford Superior Court Friday, May 2, 2014, during the arraignment of Christopher Plaskon, the teenager charged in the killing of Jonathan Law High School student Maren Sanchez.
Photo: Autumn Driscoll

Christopher Plaskon, 17, third from left, appears in Superior Court in Milford, Conn., on Wednesday, June 4, 2014. Plaskon, charged with stabbing a classmate to death in school on their prom day, pleaded not guilty to murder Wednesday as his attorney said he was investigating a possible mental health defense. From left, are attorney Edward Gavin, Plaskon's uncle and guardian Paul Healy, Plaskon and attorney Richard Meehan Jr.
Photo: Arnold Gold, AP Photo/Arnold Gold, Pool

Christopher Plaskon, 17, third from left, appears in Superior Court...

Christopher Plaskon, 17, second from left, appears in Superior Court in Milford, Conn., on Wednesday, June 4, 2014. Plaskon, charged with stabbing a classmate to death in school on their prom day, pleaded not guilty to murder Wednesday as his attorney said he was investigating a possible mental health defense. At left is Plaskon's uncle and guardian Paul Healy, and attorney Richard Meehan Jr., stands at right.
Photo: Arnold Gold, AP Photo/Arnold Gold, Pool

Christopher Plaskon, 17, second from left, appears in Superior...

Christopher Plaskon, 17, third from left, appears in Superior Court in Milford, Conn., on Wednesday, June 4, 2014. Plaskon, charged with stabbing a classmate to death in school on their prom day, pleaded not guilty to murder Wednesday as his attorney said he was investigating a possible mental health defense. From far left are attorney Edward Gavin and Plaskon's uncle and guardian Paul Healy.
Photo: Arnold Gold, AP Photo/Arnold Gold, Pool

Christopher Plaskon, 17, third from left, appears in Superior Court...

MILFORD -- The high school student accused of fatally stabbing a classmate in a school hallway after she refused to go to the junior prom with him waived a probable cause hearing Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to murder.

And in a move that could mean the teen will use an insanity defense, Christopher Plaskon's lawyers asked for a trial by a three-judge panel instead of a jury of 12.

Later, his lawyer would not say they will claim Plaskon was insane when he slashed 16-year-old Maren Sanchez across the throat, face and chest in the hallway of Jonathan Law High School -- but he did not deny it is under consideration.

"He (Plaskon) is on a variety of medications, anti-psychotic and anti-anxiety medications," the lawyer, Richard Meehan Jr., told state Superior Court Judge Frank Iannotti. But he "is lucid and cognizant of what we are doing here."

"What happened in Santa Barbara would only make this type of issue only more difficult to present before a jury," Meehan said, referring to the recent shooting spree near the University of California-Santa Barbara by 22-year-old Elliot Rodger that left seven people dead and 13 wounded.

State's Attorney Kevin Lawlor responded that it was "up to the defense what they intend to claim. We still have the burden of proving the case beyond a reasonable doubt, and that's what we will endeavor to do."

Dressed in a bright orange prison jumpsuit, Plaskon, 17, pursed his lips, answering only, "Yes, your honor," when asked by Iannotti if he understood the ramifications of waiving a probable cause hearing where prosecutors would have to present evidence to show they have reason to try Plaskon for murder.

Plaskon's parents and two older brothers sat on a bench behind the defense table showing no emotion.

Judges generally grill murder defendants on their decision to waive probable cause hearings -- a decision that is made in more than 90 percent of murder cases -- but Meehan told the judge that Plaskon's uncle and court-appointed guardian, Paul Healy, would be answering for the teen.

The judge warned them that once the hearing was waived, it could not be brought up again.

"We understand that completely," Healy responded.

The judge then continued the case to July 30 for a status conference.

Iannotti also granted the prosecutor's motions to have a sample of Plaskon's DNA taken, as well as his fingerprints and palm print.

Lawlor said Plaskon's fingerprints were not taken at the time of his arrest. He said the DNA was needed to compare to evidence being tested from the crime scene at the State Police laboratory. Both things were done -- the inside of Plaskon's mouth was swabbed -- in the lockup area of the courthouse after the hearing.

Following the hearing, the Plaskon family members were quickly escorted to a white sport utility vehicle parked outside the courthouse. They did not comment.

"His family is obviously suffering," Meehan said as he watched them drive off. "It's an extremely difficult time for all of them."

The Sanchez family was not at the hearing.

Plaskon is accused of stabbing his classmate, Maren Sanchez, to death at Jonathan Law High School on April 25.

Police said the 16-year-old Sanchez, an athlete and National Honor Society member, was confronted by childhood friend Plaskon in a first-floor hallway at the school shortly after 7 a.m., before classes began.

A teacher saw Plaskon on top of Sanchez during the attack and unsuccessfully tried to pull him off her, according to a police report. Another witness pointed out the bloody knife to officers where Plaskon dropped it, a short distance down the hallway.

Police said after Plaskon stabbed Sanchez he dropped the knife and calmly walked to the principal's office.

"I did it. Just arrest me," he told Officer James Kiely, the school's resource officer.

Kiely had been called to the principal's office, where he saw Plaskon with bloody hands and clothing. The report states that Kiely, who knows Plaskon, asked him what happened and the boy confessed.

Kiely handcuffed Plaskon, then went to the crime location in the hallway where he saw Sanchez was in grave condition.